Fibromyalgia, often misdiagnosed, can be controlled with medication, lifestyle changes

Fibromyalgia, often misdiagnosed, can be controlled with medication, lifestyle changes

10:53 AM,
Sep. 18, 2012

Dr. Deborah Alpert, a rheumatologist at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, examines tender points on patient Debbie Crispo, 55, of Ocean Township, who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia five years ago. 'It's a very tangible pain ? but it's not often properly recognized,' Alpert said of the condition.

Written by

Susan Bloom | For the Asbury Park Press

For years, Debbie Crispo, 55, had enough energy to hold down two jobs - a full-time position as a hospital secretary/monitor technician and a part-time job as a custodian at Fort Monmouth in Oceanport - with no problem. Until five years ago, when everything mysteriously changed.

"I started feeling really tired and I just hurt all over; it was painful if anyone touched me or even if I touched myself anywhere," she said of her low energy and flu-like symptoms, which the Ocean Township resident described as "weird and hard to explain."